The Dillon tribune., 1887-08-19
now IT OCCURRED.
An Impartial Statement Of the Causes
Loading to the shooting Of Madd"x
by E.. A. Clayton Last Wetlnes.
day.

Butte Miner: \ gentleman who claims
to be convcrsant with the origin Of the
quarrel between Madtux and Clayton say 6
the land about which the dispute arose Is
Government land but that Clayton's claim
to !, rests on the ground that he cleaned
the land up for the purpose Of cutting hay
on it two years ago.
The "trip Of land Is not more than five
acres in extent and lies about mile above
Clay,ou's ranch, while It is more than
three miles to the Maddux ranch. He
states that Clayton went to some trouble
IN cleaning II 10 that he could use his
moving machine upon it. Our informant
states that Clayto cut the har from it two
years ago but did not last year as It was
not worth cutting. lie intended doing SO
this year, but while hc was at his ranch on
Soap Guicl, Maddux came and cut the hay,
or sent his men to do il. Clayton, on his
return, saw them at work there and re-.
monstrated with them, but they. Of course,
acting under orders, had no defence to
make or excuse to offer. Clayton then
said that he knew Madlux had been pack.
ing q six.shooter for him and iussing
about water privileges Tor years back, "bnt, =
nc is reported to have said, "if you move
that hay off that ground III give Maddux q
racket to the full extent Of the law" On
Wednesday last, our informant continues,
Maddux with Ills hired men, Peterson and
Powers, came with hayrack 10 remove
the hay which had been cut by his men
and Clayton met them on the road. lie
was with his moving maching. lie had
his coat off and in the pocket OF il was a
nix. shooter. Our informant states that the
man Maddux was very large, power
ful ,nan, much more than Il match for
Clayton in personal encounter, and that
Madiux had frequently expressed in pub
lie his intention Of doing up Clay ton when.
ever he got an opportunity, Of which Clay.
ton was aware. Clayton is said 10 have
asked Maddux "Why do you play such
dirty tricks As this on me? have righ,
to that land because I and my boy cleaned
that land up over two years ago, and here
you come two or three miles above your
ranch to take this hay that you have no
right TO-" Maddux Is reported to have re.
piled that he cleaned the land of thirteen
years ago. Clayton denied this and reaf.
frmed what he had done Tor the purpose
Of reaping It with his moving machine
Maddux is then said to have given him the
lie which reused Clayton so he dared hin,
to come down. off the wagon. Maddux
asked il he had any weapons about
him which Clayton said he had not. Mad.
dux had shot gun in his hand which he
gave to Powers who is reported to have
held It down, tho muzzle pointed in Clay
tons direction. Maddux then came dowr
from the wagon and advanced towards
Clayton who backed toward his moving
machine where his coat was. Two o,
three times, our informant states, "yon'rt
coming, are you?' an9 kept backing tn hi
coat, and each time Maddox replied, ''yes
I'm coming" making threatening gestures
When Maddux crowded Clayton to tn,
machine the latter picked up his coat an.
got his revolver and fired, shooting Mad
dux twice, and then seeing Powers raising
the gun he held he sho, at him, hitting hin
in the arm ST. tina, he dropped the gun
This is the statement Of the affair as rela,
cd to tho Miner rcprcsen,ive, and it WA
-, Al, 4 4
mated in aquarrel several years ago abo,
horse that Clayton and Maddnx bot
claimed and which the former obtaine
possession OF though the ;a'ter'~ brand wa